Plate clamp



Feb. 17, 1925. 1,526,751

F. LAMATSCH PLATE CLAMP A9 Filed Feb. 1/ %923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Patented Feb. 17, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK LAMATSCH, OF WEST HOBOKE'N, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO It. AND

a CO., OF -NEW YORK, v Y-, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PLATE CLAMP.

Application filed February 1, 1923. Serial No. 616,266.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Fnnmnuon LA- MATSOH, a citizen of the United States, residing at WVest Hoboken, county of Hudson, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Plate Clamps, fully described and represented in "the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming .a part of the same.

This invention relates to certain improvements in plate clamps for clamping printing plates on the plate supports of printing machines. i p p In printing machines, and particularly in printing machines in which the plate sup ports are cylinders, the cylinders are capacr [tated to support fourplates in line across the cylinder, such machines being commonly called four plate wide machines. In these machines the inneredges of the two inner plates are clamped against a fixed stop and there is provided on each side of the fiXBCl stop a movable clamp which clamps the outer edges of the inner plates and the inner edges of the outer plates, the outer edges of the outer plates being clamped by fur- I ther movable clamps moved by suitable mechanism operated from the ends of the cylinders, the inner plates and the movable clamps being moved inwardly toward the fixed stop by the movement of the outside clamps andthe outer plates.

When it is desired to unplate the cylinder it has been necessary to manually pull away the intermediate. clamps from the outer edges of the inner plates after the outer clamping mechanism has been operated to free the outer plates. Owing to'the position of the movable intermediate clamps on the cylinders it is awkward to reach them and the operationof freeing them fronrtlie inner plates consumes an undesirable amount of time. p

In these machines, furthermore, it may at times be desired to run only two plates wide, that is, only two plates in line across the cylinder, and when this is done the two inner plates are employed, the outer plates being left off the cylinder. When the cylin:

ders are thus used with only the two inner plates mechanism must be provided for mov ing the intermediate clamps against the side plates as the clamping mechanism for the outer edges of the plate is manipulated to free such outer plates where four plates wide are used across the cylinder, and where only two plates are used across the cylinder.

A further object of the invention is to i provide an improved mechanism for moving the intermedlate clamps against the outer edges of the inner plates when two plates wide are employed, the mechanism being op erated from the clamping mechanism ordinarily employed for clamping the outer edges of the outerplates. I

With these and other objects not specifi cally referred to in view, the invention consists in certain novel parts, combinations and arrangements which will be described in connection with the accompanying draw-' ings and the novel features then pointed out in the claims hereunto annexed.

In these drawings Figure l is an end View of a plate cylinder partly broken away and partly in section embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view partly broken away showing the mechanism as employed for clamping an inside plate only in position, the section being taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view partly broken away, onan enlarged scale showing the invention as employed with inner and outer plates on one side of the fixed plate stop, the parts being shown in plate clamping position.

Figure 5 is aview similar to 4;, showing the outer plate released and the intermlediate clamp moved away from the inner ate. p Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view on an enlarged scale, the section being taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to these drawings, the invention has been illustrated as embodied in a construction in which the plate support is a cylinder, although it may be understood that for certain purposes the invention is capable of use with constructions in which the plate support is other than cylindrical in form. In the construction illustrated, however, the plate support will include a cylinder 1, and in the usual constructions this cylinder will be capacitated to carry four plates wide across the cylinder. Midway of its width the cylinder is provided with a fixed stop 2, this stop bein set in grooves in the cylinder wall and eing provided with undercut sides 3, 4 with. which the bevelled edges of the plates are adapted to engage. It will be understood that the mechanism for clamping the plates is the same on each end of the cylinder and only one such mechanism will, therefore, be described as necessary for an understanding of the invention.

Referring first to Figs. 4 to 6, there is shown mounted on'the cylinder to one side of the fixed'stop 2 an outer plate P and an inner plate P, the inner edge 5 of the plate P takingunder the groove 4 in thefixed stop 2. The outer edge 6 of the inner plate P and the inner edge 7 of the outer plate P are clamped by means of an intermediate clamp 8, this clamp being in the form of a block sliding in guides 9 formed in a longitudinal groove 10 in the cylinder wall. This clamp is provided at its upper surface with bevelled grooves 11, 12 which engage respectively with the edges 6 and 7 of the plates P and P. The outer edges 13 of the outer plate P are engaged by a clamp 14- having a bevelled edge 15 for engaging the edge 13 of the plate, this clamp being carried on a block 16 which slides in the guides 9 of the groove 10, before referred to. This clamp block 16 is interiorly threaded to receive a screw bolt 17 provided with a squared head 18 by which it may be turned through the use of a suitable tool, a thrust collar 19 in a thrust block 20 being provided so that the screw rod 17 will effect the movement of the clamp block 16.

In locking up the plate where two plates are employed on the same side of the fixed stop 2 by the rotation of the rod 18 the clamp 14 is moved inwardly against the plate P and the continuation of this movement through the plate P causesthe movementof the intermediate clamp 8 against the plate P whereby the plate P is moved into clamping engagement with the fixed stop 2. On the reverse of the rod 18 the clamp 14 is moved backwardly and frees the outer edge 13 of the outer plate P.

In constructions embodying the invention means are provided whereby as the clamp 14 is moved outwardly away from the plate P thus freeing the plate P the block 8 is moved outwardly so as to free the plate P. lVhile the specific construction for effecting this may be somewhat varied, spring means will preferably be employed for effecting this movement, the parts being moved into clamping position against these spring means. In the particular construction illustrated for effecting this, there is provided a rod 21 supported preferably midway of its ends in a sleeve block 22 in the groove 10 of the cylinder before referred to. This rod 21 is secured at one end to the intermediate clamp block 8 as by having a reduced end 23 entering into a recess 2 1 in the end of the block, the reduced end of the rod being fastened in the block by means of a pin 25. At its other end the rod is threaded into a socket block 26 having a socket 2T, hereinafter more particularly referred to.

Interposed between the clamp block 8 and the socket block 26 is a spring, this spring in the particular construction illustrated, being a coil spring 28. This spring seats against the outer end of the sleeve block 22 and the inner end of the socket block 26. This spring is of sufficient strength to move the clamp block 8 and the plate P when the clamp 14 is moved away to free the plate P in cases where the plate P is used so as to free the plate P from the clamp 8, the parts being moved into clamping position against the advance of the spring 26* lVith this construction, therefore, the plate P is automatically freed from the intermediate clamp as the parts move to unlocking position and it is unnecessary for the operatorto move the block, this being effected automatically with a saving of time and trouble.

It will be seen from the inspection of the drawings that this movement will occur whether one plate or two plates are used, the inner plate being freed in either event. In constructions, however, where only the inner plate P is to be locked in position means will be provided for operating the outside mechanism so that this mechanism can be utilized for moving the intermediate clamp to lock up the inner plate. In accordance with the invention, therefore, such means are provided, and in the particular construction illustrated, in order that the benefit of the spring may be utilized the rod 21 is utilized for moving the intermediate clamp. To this end, therefore, the socket block 26 is provided, the socket in this block permitting the end of the rod to enter the socket, the movement of the parts being effected by turning the screw rod 17 until the inner end of the block 16 abuts against the outer end of the socket block 26, as shown in Fig. 3,'a continuation of this movement resultmg in the inward movement of the rod and clamp. lVith this construction, furthermore, plates of different column widths may be locked up and freed, the

. suificiently to free the intermediate clamp from the inner plate when an outer plate narrower than usual is employed.

In constructions embodying the invention in its best form, the outer edge otvthe outer plate will be engaged by a clamp around its periphery, and the inner edges of the outer plates and the outer edges of the inner plates will be engaged at a plurality of points. While the construction for effecting this may be varied to some extent, as shown this clamp 14: (see Fig. 1) is secured to the two outside clamp blocks by means of screws 30, these outside clamp blocks sliding with the clamp. The middle clamp block is provided with a projection 31 which extends through a slot 32 (see Fig. 2) in the clamp, the clamp thus being secured to the block. As the rod 17 is operated the clamp 14 and the three clamp blocks to which it is secured are moved inwardly and outwardly;

It will be understood that there will be three of the intermediate clamps 8. With this construction all the clamps are simultaneously operated by the actuation of the clamp rod 17.

From the above it will be seen that a very simple and efiicient clamping mechanism has been provided for clamping vone or two plates in position on each half of the cylinder and automatically freeing the inner plate from its clamps. While the invention has been shown and described in what is believed to be its best form, it will be undermediate movable clamp against which the outer edge of an inner plate and the inner edge of an outer plate may abut, an outer movable clamp clamping against the outer edge of the outer plate, means operable when the outer clamp is moved for moving the intermediate clamp into engagement with an inner plate, and spring means acting to free the intermediate clamp from the inner plate when the outer clamp moving mechanism is reversely operated.

2. In a plate clamp, the combination ot a fixed inside plate clamp agalnst which the inner edge of an inner plate abuts, an intermediate movable clamp against which the outer edge of an inner plate and the inner edge of an. outer plate may abut, an outer movable clamp clamping against the outer edge of the outer plate, means for moving the outer clamp into engagement with the outer edge of the outer plate, a rod connected with the intermediate clamp, spring seats on the rod, and a spring between the seats for freeing the intermediate clamp from the inner plate.

3. In a plate clamp, the combination of a fixed inside plate clamp against which the inner edge of an inner plate abuts, an intermediate movable clamp against which the outer edge of an inner plate and the inner edge of an outer plate may abut, an outer movable clamp clamping against the outer edge of the outer plate, a screw rod for moving the outer clamp, a rod connected with the inner clamp, a socket at the end of the rod adjacent the screw into which the end of the screw may pass, a sleeve on the rod behind the socket, and a spring interposed between the socket and the sleeve.

4. In a plate clamp, the combination of a fixed inside plate clamp against which the inner edge of an inner plate abuts, an intermediate movable clamp against which the outer edge of an inner plate and the inner edge of an outer plate may abut, an outer movable clamp clamping against the outer edge of the outer plate, a screw rod for moving the outer clamp, a rod pinned to the inner clamp, a socket block on the end of the rod adjacent the screw into which the end of the screw may pass, a sleeve around the rod behind the socket, and a spiral spring interposed between the socket and the sleeve.

5. In a plate clamp, the combination with a plate support, of an outer clamp engaging peripherially the outer edge of a plate, freely movable inner clamps engaging the inner edge of an outer plate and the outer edge of an inner plate, an operating rod, and connections whereby the rod operates both the outer clamps and the inner clamps.

6. In a plate clamp, the combination with a plate support, of an outer clamp engaging peripherially the outer edge of a plate, a plurality of blocks to which the clamp is secured, freely movable inner clamps, and an operating rod co-operating with one of the blocks to move the clamps.

7. In a plate clamp, the combination of a curved plate support, a curved clamp plate peripherially engaging the outer edge of a plate, sliding blocks to which the clamp is secured at its ends, a middle block to which the clamp is secured, freely movable inner clamps, and an operating rod threaded into the middle block for moving the latter.

8. In a plate clamp, the combination with a plate support, of an outer clamp engaging the outer edge of a plate, an operating rod therefor, an inner clamp for clamping the inner edge of an outer plate and the outer edge of an inner plate, an operating rod therefor, and a connection between the rods having a socket into which the inner end of the first named operating rod may pass, as and for the purposes described.

9. In a plate clamp, the combination with a plate support, of an outer clamp engaging the outer edge of a plate, an operating rod therefor, an inner clamp engaging the inner edge of an outer plate and the outer edge of an inner plate, an operating rod for the inner clamp, a connection between the rods having a socket into which the inner end of the first named rod may freely pass, and a spring for freeing the inner clamp. from the inner plate.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

FREDERICK LAMATSCH. 

